Drying-oven for sheet material.



F. BIRCHBAUER.

DRYING OVEN FOR SHEET MATERIALS.

APPLxcATloN FILED AUG,9.1911.

LQSSlO, Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

2 sHEETs-sHEET`-1.

mmxx;

@MMMMQ F. BIRCHBAUER.

DRYING OVEN FOR SHEET MTERIALS.

APPLICATIQN FILED A.uc..9.1917.

lntentcd Doc. 2J., 1918.

' if am fm www@ @Wam FERDINAND BRCHBAUER, OF BALTIMORE.

MARYLAND, ASSGNB. EN/RAL Till 'OIVIPANYQ NCORPORATED, 0l" BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A COTPORTtON 0F NEVI Yonai.

Application filed August 9,

To all lwho/my t may concern Be 1t known that l, FEnDiNAND BIRCH- BAUER, a citizen of the `United States, re-

siding at..Baltimorein the State of Maryland, have invented newl and useful Improv/en-ient's Vin Drying- Ovens for Sheet Materials, of which the following` is a yspecilication. o

This invention relates to improvements'in drying apparatus, pertaining more particularly to apparatus adapted for use in the l manufacturerof printed tins or sheets of met-al used largely in the manufacture of metallic containers.

The sheets or blanks from which meta-l containers are made are frequently printed 'in several colors.v The appllcation of each color necessitates a separate printing operation, and after each printlng the tins or sheets must be dried or baked in order to render the printing effective, to cause `the s color t0 adhere, and to prevent smearmg,

etc., of the sheets. |Since the requirements oftrade are such as toprovide for handling of large quantities of individual tins or sheets, and each must be subjected to the various operations, the 'handling of the sheets or tins becomes a matter bf material importance. i

Obviously, the time required in completing the printing operations is dependent to a great extent on the length of time required indrying the sheets, since each printing operation is of short. duration-`Hence theJ handling of the sheets in locating them in the drier, the length of time required in the *drying apparatus, and the handling of the sheets after the drying is completedA becomes of material importance. And during the drying operation, the particular manner in which the sheets are dried becomes of importance inorder that the amount of damaged sheets or tins be reduced as fas as possible. Various Ways of meeting the conditions present in the treatment of such sheets or tins have been employed, and it is the general practice to employ a conveyer, preferably of .the endless type and which carries a plurality of supports which will enable 'each'sheet to be supported individually .dur-J ingits travel through the drying apparatus. One type of structures of the endless belt i type-carries the sheet through one of the flights of the conveyer, the sheet being rei5-*moved at the end of such flight. Since the Specification of Letters Patent.

nnYING-ovnn non snaar Mecenate;

Pateiited Bec., 2d, MMS.

1917. serial-n0. 185,324.

time required in dryingv the sheet is considerable, this type necessitates the use of a flight of considerable lengt-h, ranging up to one hundred feet and over, the conveyer moving at a slow' speedthrough the drying oven. In this type, the other flight of the chain performs no Work inthe drying operation, the result being 'that the conveyer'op- I crates at but substantially fifty per cent. (50%) of its capacity. The disadvantage of this arrangement Will be Iapparent in, considering the oost of heating the drying apparatus Where approximately one-half of `the conveyer is performing no Work.

Attempts to solve' these difficulties have led to the employment of another type, in`

which the sheet-is caused .to travel practically throughout the length of both vflights,

thus materially shortening the length of the i conveyer and the size of the drymg appanatue, .reducing the cost of heating'the oven and making both nights of the conveyer ac tive. While this advantage resulted by the change, another serious disadvantage arose by reason of the factthat While the sheet,

on the upper conveyer flight,could rest Withan edge of the sheet on the conveyer itself, the sheet, in roundingfrom one Hight to the other, first placed the sheet on the tray-like support which necessarily extended the full width ofthe sheet, the sheet then shifting away from the conveyer on to suitable supports carried by 4the ends of the trays.,

These sheet movements tend to bring the Y printed face into contact with the tray or support at one or more points in the travel of the sheet on the conveyer. This contact of sheet and support during sheet movements tends t0 mark or mar the printing, and this effect is increased by reason of the very slow speed of the conveyer Which, While substantially continuous, tends to cause a more or less jerky movement of the conveyer and hence tends to provide sheet shifting-movements; fr Y -f The present invention is designed to overcome these 'and other difficulties by the use of a. structure of the endless conveyer type and by means of which the efliciency of thedrying apparatus is materially increased. In addition. the apparatus is of a type which is simple and efficient in operation, durable in construction, and which can be installed and operated at a comparatively low cost.

To these and other ends, the nature of tion consists;- inv the' improved construction.

and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated 1n the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed" out in the appended claims,

In v the.accompanyingdrawings, in which similar4 reference characters indicatel similar parts in each of the views:

Figure 1 is aview in diagrammatic eleval tion showing the drying apparatus embodying features of t-he present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of parts showninF ig. l, the parts being shown on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view-taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. at is a sectional view taken 'on line Lthat-of Fig; 5.

' Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of one end of the drying apparatus, the side walls being omitted to show underlying parts.

. Fig. -G is a detaill view showing one form of support which may be employed, por-i. tions of conveyer elements being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view showing one way in which the trays or supports may be secured to the conveyer.

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing t-he man' ner in which an intermediate portion of the tray is supported.

'Fig. 9 is.a horizontal section, somewhat diagrammatic, of one end of the drier.

Fig. l10 is a detail perspective view. l

In the present invention, the apparatus is of the type in which theentire drying operation is provided during travel of the sheet through one llight of the conveyer, the sheet ,being introduced at one end of the flight and removed at the opposite end. This arrange` ment however is provided in connection with both flights of the conveyer, each flight thus becoming act-ive in the ldrying operations,shee ts being fed to the apparatus at each end and removed at the opposite end, the inclosing frame of the drier being arranged to permit of such feeding and removal operations. By this arrangement, the heating cost factor is materially reduced, and, in addition, the arrangement permits of the use of ventilating structures by means of which anl important advantage accrues with respect to the drying of the individuall sheet, viz: the reduction or elimination of the possibility of blistering the sheet. This result is obtained by gradually moving the sheet into a zone of maximum temperaturethus gradually setting the color-the sheet, after passing such zone, moving into gradually decreasing temperatures to thek point of removal, thus providing a better finish to the sheet. Since each flight is utilized, the Zone of maximum temperature is located approximately midway of the length of the A drawings I have shown, soniewhat ployed in connection with other forms of structures, and it is to be understood that 'such changes` and modifications as may be .found'hdesirable'or essential, are considered as falling within the "general spirit and scope of the invention, in so far as the same are Ipermitted by the scope of the appended claimswhen broadly construed.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I preferably employ an elongated casing'or housing 10 of sufficient length'to receive the endless carrier, the carrierbeing shown as a conveyer extending around shafts 1,1 and l2 atopposite ends of the housing. As heretofore pointed out, the sheets or tins are delivered to the carrier at one end of 'a flight and removed at the opposite end. In the embodiment shown in the drawings the shafts are movable clockwise, and hence the sheets for the uppe'rflight arel introduced at the left hand end rif Fig. l, those for the lower flight being introduced at the right hand end of said figure.

To permit of the removal of the sheets,

I preferably omit portions of the sidel walls from the upper- Hight are removed at one of ,the spaces -indicated at 13 located in the upper half of the casing, while thev sheets from the lower flight are removable through the spaces 1l locatedl in the lower half of the side of the casing.' I preferably locate a hood 15 over these spaces, suitable Ventilating pipes 1G leading from these hoods, this arrangement tending to permit the heated air which escapes through the open spaces 14 to pass out through pipes The removal of sheets may be had atA once side or on both sides of the casing or housing, as may be found desirable, or the particular side may be left optional by the use of removable closures which can be applied to the spaces through which removal is not desired.

As will be seen from Fig. 1, removal openings 14'are arranged only with respect to the particular flight from which the sheets are being'removed, thus 4retaining the oven structure for the adjacent portion of the opposite flight closed, this latter portion being that into which the sheets to be dried are introduced. portion of the oven to receive such sheets As it is desired that the Lassen) to be of an approximately constant temperature,l l provide a vhoriziontal partition 17 at each ende-this arrangement being shown' in Fig. 2-thus isolating the receiving end of the flight from any effects which might be produced by the presence of the dis-` charge openings of the adjacent flight; las a result, the temperature control cani be carried to a point in proximity to the entrance end of each flight and utilizing the length of the heating structure to the maximum. As a result the opposite ends of the housing or casing are practically divided into upper and lower'chamber portions, the partitions being located between the opposite flights of the carrier. While the partit-ions do not extend to the ends of the casing-thus permitting free movement of the carrier in passing from onefflight .tothe other-this does not materially afl'ect the operation described, since the communication between the chambers at the ends is at the point where the sheets are introduced and are being positioned, at which time it is less desirable to subject the sheet to the maximum temperatures. l

`As shownl in Figs. 2 andl 3, the interior vof the housing or casing is practically divided into upper-and lower chambers aand l), by.

4a horizontal partition 17 formed in suitable manner, ,this partition being located between the opposite flights of the carrier and being of less length than the length of the housing' l so that the chambers are in `open communication at the ends of the housing, This arrangement practically produces twol semi-independent. drying chambers, this being especiallyl true at intermediate points in the lengthv of the housing, whichpoints carry the maximum drying temperatures.

' Any' suitable means may be employed for -heating these chambers, a simple arrangement being Vby the use of aplurality of perforated pipes 18 located within the lower chamber adjacent its bottom and coperating with suitable members indicated generally at-19, to produce 'a burner of the Bunsen type, thus heating this chamber, -it be- 56 ing Yunderstood lthat any desirable number of structuresmay be employed and at prop- '.erly spaced points. Similarly the upper chamber may' be heated by .pipes located in the partition l7and which are adapted to be operative at the bottom of the upper chamber, these pipes also forming burners. Obviously, other waysv of heating may be employed, those shown being simply illustrative. d 'A f As shown more particularly in Fig. 2, l preferably locate Ventilating Apipes 20 adjacent'the endsv ofthe casing, these pipes extending from the top of the casing, a suitable balile 21 being located belowr .the entrance. to pipes 20 in order that the draft through pipes 20 will be eifective in ventilattending to vary the temperatures in'an vthrough chambers aA and '5.5

ingmnre'or less indirectly, it' being neces- A sary for the heat to escape through a somewhattortuous path. As will be understood, openings 13 and 14.

are more or less eflective'in the Ventilating action, anyvariation inthe number of spaces open--the length of the entire. phen1n`g-A vious manner.' l

The'carrier, indicated generally at 22, 1s preferably a fabricated structure made up `essentially of a pair ofchains 23 composed of links 23a. chains v23 being` spaced apart and adapted to be mounted onsprocket.

wheels 24 mountedon shafts ll and '12, in-

l indicated in Figs. Li-'and 5, as a drive shaft 427, driven from a sui-tablepoint, said shaft carrying a worm 28' adapted to coperatie with a'worin gear 29 on shaft'll, thus providing a drive meanswhich willzcause'a relatively slow movement fof the chains 'nach linkes is preferabiypfvidedwith a stud .30, projecting inwardly, each stud Y halving a llateral opening 30a adapted to. re-

ceive oneof the arms 31a of a tray 3l', the;

arm. being- `secured in position` by ysuitable means such as a setscrew 8 0" (Fig. 7 It; is to be understood, of course, that chains 23 ,I

are so positioned that the stud of-a link of one chain is directly opposite the stud of thel corresponding link of the'other chain, the

two studs thus being substantially in alin#v ment. rlhis positioning may be provided by.-

the mounting .of sprockets 24.

The trays. 31 are formed of heavy wire-or` steel bars of small cross-section, these wires or bars being bent yto produce the a s 31.a at the ends ofthe bars or wires, these arms projecting outwardly. The outer ends of the arms lead to hook shaped portions 31b which project rearwardly with respect to the direc- V-shaped connecting-portion 31 which may "i120 extend. inwardly a suitable distance, and x l which preferabvly, although not necessarily,

extends inward adistance sui'licient to permit its connection with a link 82a forming one of the members of a fabricated chain 32 'arranged midway between chains 23.

Where the chain structure` 32 is employed,

4links 32a .will obviously correspond in lenglth 1 travel of arms 31` Chain 32 is mounted on sprockets 33,- and may have its intermediate portion Supported similarly to vchains 23,`

although this -is not absolutely essential,

vsince each tray, being supported directly at its ends will tend to support chain $2 against sagging. Sprocket wheels 33 may be loose or fast on the shafts as may be desired.

As shown in Fig. 2, the trays arepreferably inclined rearwardly toward' their outer ends with respect to the direction of travel.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 2 the sheets or ltins are introduced as the trays are rounding theconnecting 'portions of the feed. In the drawings I have shown a con- `-veyer 34 at each end .of the oven, these conveyer's being adapted to receive the sheets from presses 35, the showing of these elements .being diagrammatic. As' will be understood, the sheets are positioned on the conveyer'with the printed side uppermost, and are inserted into the space between trays in lthis manner. The sheets introduced at the left end of Fig. 2 rest upon that side of the tray opposite the side carrying hook members 31D, unprinted faces of the sheets facing the supporting tray, the'printed faces facing the preceding tray. The sheets or tins delivered at the right end of the oven are also introduced between successive trays with the printed faces uppermost. At this )end, however, the introduced sheet -is supported on that side of the tray from which the hooks 31b project, so that as the'cha'in carries the vintroduced sheet forward,`the

sheet is supported against dropping by the hooks of. the tray, with the unprinted side facing the remainder of the tray. Since the trays are inclined, rearwardly, it will be `understood that there is practically no lia bility of the positioned sheet shifting its position after rounding the connecting p0rtion of the flights, and during this period the sheets are supported by the trays with the unprinted face of the sheet as the only portion in contact wit-h the tray. Hence the relative positionsof the sheets are maintained throughout their `travel through the oven, the sheets, as heretofore pointed out, being removed at openings 13 or 14 before y beginning to round the ends of the flights,

so that practically no accidental shifting of l the sheets will be had while in the oven.

In this latter connection, this effect is inmessie creased-especially in the upper flight-by the form of links 82a-, shown in Fig. 8, these `links tending to shift the lower edge of the introduced sheet away from the tray and However, this is'not obligatory since the removed sheets at `either end are limited to those of a single press, so that while sheets of two presses are being dried concurrently, there is no mixing of sheets, so that the suc-f cessive, colors can be applied on the same press, which may be advantageous in insuring registration by completing the printing on a single press- 'By rendering both flights ofthe carrier active and completing the drying action on each flight, the heat cost factor is materially reduced, and the capacity of the drier is greatly increased, the close arrangement of the trays permitting a large number kof sheets to be undergoing treatment concurrently with each sheet receiving its proper treatment. IVhile this increases the dead load `weight, provision is made forsupporting this weight so as not to affect the operation of the carrier.

. lVhile I have herein shown and described a preferred form of apparatus, it will be readily understood that 4changes or modifications therein may be required or desired t0 meet the exigencies of use, and I desire to be understood as reserving the right to make any and all such changes or modifica-tions as maybe found necessary or desirable, in so far as the same may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims when 'broadly construed. I

In view of the fact that lengths of sheets may vary in different types of work and the further fact that feeding to the drier may not be uniform, I prefer to employvmeans tending to guide the sheet to predetermined positions to insure substantially uniform sheet positioning on the traveling support. This means may be of any preferred arrangement, asimple mechanism for the purpose being the use of avpair of bars or members 10 having outwardly flared or inclined forward ends 40a,- as in Fig. 9, these bars or members being adjustably supported so asto permit increase or decrease in the distance between the bars or members. These Structures are preferably located at both feeding ends of the drier. I

I also prefer to employ 'a sheet supporting guide or member vin connect-ion with the feeding. means for the lower flight, the

50 I flight in eachof Asaid chambers, the ends of end positioned to permit access tothe carrier guide 'or member being adapted to prevent the rear end of the sheet from being freed from support before it reaches a vpoint on the sheet-supporting member of the carrier sufficiently beyond the hook-shaped ends of the carrier member to ensue Ithis edge of the sheet enteringthe hook. This member is shown in detail in Fig. 10 as in the form of an arm or fingerA 41 secured to the oven frame and extending to or into the faciall plane of the 'roll 84a of 'conveyer 34.` The iinger configuration acts to augment `the sheet advancing movement provided by the sheet delivering mechanism. Obviously Where roll i4a extends into the path of travel of the carrier members sufliciently tobause sheet delivery at the proper point, member 41 may be omitted. f

Having uns described my invasin, that I claim as new, is; i Y

1. A drier for printed sheets comprising an oven structure having an inlet opening at each end throughvvhich printed sheets may be fed, and anendless carrier having approximately parallel flights extending in the direction-of length ofthe'oven Withthe ends of the iights positioned vadjacentsaid inlet openings, said carrier having a plurality of closely-arranged 'sheet-supporting members active in both flights, said oven structure having a lengthto permit complete drying treatment of the sheet during'its travel in either flight and having an opening ateach flights for removal of sheets after completion of the drying treatment and in vadvance of movement vof the supporting'member to a position to receive the succeeding sheet,

2. A drier for printed sheets comprisingan oven structure having an inlet opening at each end through which printed sheets may be fed and also having a partition extending inthe direction of length of the oven and dividingvth'e latter into upper and lojvverlchambers, said chambers being in open communication at the ends of the oven structure, andV an endless carrier having approximately parallel flights extending in the direction of length of the oven, said flights being on opposite sides of the partition to locate a sheet during its travel through either chainy ber, and having an opening at each end positioned to permit access to the carrier-'flights for removal of sheets after completion of the.,

Y drying treatment and in -advance of move-- ment of the supporting member to a position to receive the succeeding sheet.

8. A drier for printed sheets comprising Aan oven structure having an inlet opening at each-end through which printed sheets may be fed and also having a partition eX- tending in the direction of length ofthe oven and dividing the latter into upper and loWer chambers, said chambers being in open conimunicatioii at the ends of the oven structure, an endless carrier having approximately parallel iiights extending in thedirection of length of the oven, said flights bring on opposite sides of the partition to loca-te a flight in each of said chambers, the ends of the liights being positioned adjacent said inlet openings and Within the portions of open communication between the chambers, said carrier having a plurality of closely-arranged slieet-supporting members active in both flights, said oven structure having a lengthl to` permit complete drying treatment of the sheet during' its travel through either chainber, and having an opening at each end positioned to permit access -to the carrier flights for'removal of'slieets after completion of the drying treatment and in advance Aof movement-ofthe supporting member to a osition to receive the succeeding sheet, an means lfor heating said chambers.

4Q A drier for printed sheets comp-rising an oven structure having an inlet opening lat each end through which printed sheets may be fed, an endless carrier having approximately parallel flights extending in the direction of length vof the oven With the ends of the flights positioned adjacent said. inlet openings, said carrier having means for supporting af plurality of closely-arranged'but spaced-apart sheets in both flights, said oven structure having a length to permit comfpletedrying treatment of the sheet during its travel in either flight and having an opening at each end positionedto permit access to the carrier flights for removal of sheetsafter completion of the drying treat ment and in advance of movement of the V'supporting'member to aV position to receive the succeeding sheet, said oven structure being divided inproXimity'to such removal ioo openings to permit positionedsheet introduction into a closed por-tion of the` oven.

5. A drier for printed sheets comprising an oven structure having an inlet opening at each end through Which printed sheets may be fed, an endless carrier having approXimately paralleliiights extending in the direction .of length ofi the oven With the ends of the nights positioned adjacent said inlet openings. saidcarrier having meansforfsiipporting a plurality of` closely-ar-,-

ranged but'y paced-apart sheets i n both" i .endstructure'liaving a length fiightsglsa f toypenfnt @emplea drying treatment 0f the [sheet duringitsjtravel .in either Hight and havingf an openingfat each end positioned to :trpermit access to the carrier flights for removal of sheets after completion 'of the drying treatment and inl advance of movementof the supporting member to a position to receive the succeeding sheet, and means for heating and Ventilating said oven, said oven structure being divided in proximity to such to permit complete drying treatment of the sheet during its travel ineitheriiight and having an opening at each end positioned i ment of the supporting meinbei to a position to permit,- access to the carrier flights for removal of sheets after completion of the drying treatmentand in advance of moveto receive the succeeding sheet, and means for heating and Ventilating said oven, said latter means including controllable regulation of the length of' the sheet-removing opening, said oven structure being divided in proximity to such removal openings to permit positioned sheet introduction into a closed portion of the oven.

7 A drier for printed sheets comprising an oven structure having an inlet opening at each end through which printed sheets may be fed, an endless carrier having approximately parallel flights extending in the direction of length of the oven With the ends o'f the Aflights positioned. adjacent said inlet openings, a -partition extending in the direction of length of the oven and'positioned between said carrier flights', and

means for supporting the carrier to provide Hight movements substantially parallel to the direction of length of the partition, said Acarrier having a plurality of closely-arranged sheet-supporting members active in both flights. A 1

8. A drierl for printed sheets comprising an oven structurev having'an inlet opening at each end through which printed sheets may be fed, an endless carrier-having approximately parallel flights extending in the direction of length of the oven with the ends of the flights positioned adjacent said inlet openings, a partition extending in the direction of length of the oven and positioned` between said carrier flights, and

l ineans for supporting the carrierto provide l Hight movements substantially parallel to' [of saidopenings being variable to control the direction of length of the partition, said'y carrierhaving a plurality of yclosely-arinseam ranged sheet-supporting members active in both flights, said carrier supporting means 'including ahpair of members supported by the partition and' on Which the carrier is 4adapted to travel.

9. A drier for printed sheets comprising an oven structure having an inlet opening at each end through which printed sheets may be fed, an endless carrier having approximately parallel flights extending in the direction of length of the oven with the ends of the flights positioned adjacent said inlet openings, a partition extending in the direction of length of the oven and positioned between said carrier flights, and means lfor supporting the carrier to provide flight movements substantially parallel to the direction of length of thepartition, said carrier having' a plurality .of closely-arj ranged sheet-supporting members active in both flights, said supporting means including elements supported by the partition Within the lower chamber and adapted to support'the carrier against sagging during travel through said chamber.

10. A drier for printed sheets comprising an oven structure having an inlet at each end through Which printed sheets may be fed, an endless carrier having approximately parallel iights extending in the direction of length of the oven With the ends of the flights positioned adjacent said inlet openings, said carrier having a plurality of closely-arranged; sheet-supporting members' active in both fiights, said oven structure having a lengthto permit complete drying I parallel-flights extending in the direction of length of the oven with the ends of the flights positioned adjacent'said-inlet openings, said carrier' having plurality of closely-arranged sheet-supporting members active in both flights, said oven structure having a length to permit completedrying treatment of the sheet during its travel in either Hight fand having an openingat each end positioned topermitfaccess to the carrier flights for removal of sheetsafter completion ofthe drying treatment, the lengths `oven temperatures, hood structures external of the oven' and 'extending over said sheetremoving openings,` and Ventilating devices at one end through which printed sheets may be fed and an outlet opening at its opposite end through Which the sheetsv may` vbe removed, vsaid oven structure having a length to .permit complete' drying treatment of thesheet during its travel from the inlet to the outlet opening, a traveling carrier in said oven for supporting successive sheets to travel from the inlet to the discharge opening, and means for controlling the temperatures of 'the'oven to locate the zone of maximum temperature intermediate said openings and to provide decreasing. temperatures from-said zonetoward each` of said-- openings,-Whereby a traveling sheet Will iirst be subjected. to increasing temperatures and then to decreasing temperatures.

'13.. A drier for printed sheets' comprising an oven structure having an. inlet opening at one end through which printed sheets may be fed and an outlet opening 'at its opposite end through which the sheets may be- 'removed, said oven structure having a length to permit complete drying treatment of the sheet during its travel from. the inlet to the -outlet opening, 'a traveling carrier in saidk oven for ,supporting successive sheets to travel from-the inlet to the discharge opening, and means for controlling the temperatures of the oven to locate the .zone Aof maximum temperature intermediate said openings and to'provide decreasing temperatures from said zone to'vvardfe'ach of said openings, vvhereby a traveling sheet Will rst be subjected to increasing temperatures and then to decreasing temperatures, said controlling means including regulation of the length of the sheet-removal opening.

1 4. A drier for printed sheets comprising an oven structure havingan inletopening at. one endthrough Which vprinted sheets*- 'may be fed and an outlet opening at its opposite end through Which the sheets may be removed, said-oven structure having a length to permit complete drying treatment of the sheet during its travel from the inlet to the outlet opening, a traveling carrier in said oven for supporting successive'sheets4 to travel from the inlet to the'discharge opening, and means for controlling the temperatures of the oven to locate the zone. of maximum temperature intermediate said openings and-to providedecreasing temper-- atures rom" s`aid zone toward .each of said.

openings',` vvherebyav .traveling sheet :Will

first be'subjected to lincreasing temperatures e and then'fto decreasingtemperatures, said controlling ymeans including Ventilating .de-

" .vices activeat the ends yof theoven, and

means for regulating the lengthpf the Sheetremoval opening. -V

- 15, In a'drier for printed sheets, an oven structure having an inlet opening at each end through Which printed sheets maybe `fed, and an endless carrier having approximately parallel flight-s' extending in the direction of length of the oven with the ends of the flights positioned adjacent said inlet openings, said carrier including a pair of chains formed of links, and traysV carried by corresponding links of said chains, for

supporting sheets A individually, each tray having rearwardly projecting hooks, said oven lstructure having a length to permit complete drying v'treatment of a sheet during its travel in either flight and an openingl at each endV positioned to permit access to the carrier ights for removal of sheets, sheets in one Hight 'contacting with the chains and sheets 1n the other fiight being supported-by 16. In adrier for printed sheets, an oven structure having an inlet opening at each end through which printed sheets may be fed, and an endless carrier having approxi# mately parallel fiights extending inv thedi-`1f rection of length of the oven with the ends of the flights. positioned adjacent said inlet openings, said oven having a length to permit complete drying treatment of the sheet during lits Vtravel in either flight and havios 17. In a drier for printed sheets,an oven structure having an inlet opening atone end thereof through which printed sheets may be fed, anendless Lcarrier having approximately parallel flights extending in the direction of length of the oven, said carrier including chains carrying Va plurality of closely-arranged sheet-supportingtrays, V

each tray having .rearwardly projecting hook portionsand an intermediate substan-A tially V-shaped connecting'portion, and an endless Icarrie-rto which the il-shaped portion `of each tray 'isfconnected V18. A ldrierffor -printed sheets comprising anl oven structure having an vinlet opening at each end 'through Which printed sheets may beifed,.an"iendless carrier having approximately paralle'l the direction of lengthffthe oven withy thef ights yextending in. rai

izr

endsfo'f'thel flights positioned adjacent said inlet openings, said lcarrier having a plufrality of closely-arranged sheet-'supportingl members actve.- in both 4flights, said oven stiu'cture haying a length to permit com.-

I f plete drying treatment of the sheet during 19. A drier'for printed sheets comprising an ovenstruoture having an inlet opening i' at each end through which printed sheets access to the carrier flights for removal-of may be fed, an endless carrier having app proximately parallell fiights eXtending in l i the direction of length of the oven with the ends of the flights positioned adjacent said inletopenings, said carrier having a` plurality of closely-arranged sheet-supporting members active in both flights, said oven structure havinga length to permit complete drying treatment of the sheet during its'f'travel in either flight-.and having an opening. at each end positioned to permit sheets-after completion of the dryingl treatment and in advance of movement of the lfrases-lo supporting member to u position to receive the ,succeeding sheet, and means coperating With sheet ends for guiding thesheets to ysubstantially predetermined positions on the sheet-supporting members, said means being adjustably supported to permit ad-l justment relative to the travel path of the flights.

20. In a drier for printed` sheets wherein sheets may be vdelivered into either Hight of a horizontallydisposed endless carrier having a plurality of closely arranged sheetsupporting members active in both flights,

and means for controlling-the delivery of sheets to predetermined positionson said members, said uneans including a sheet-dey livery carrier mechanism, ,and a .stationary member or linger cooperating with the delivery mechanism to augment the sheet-advancing movement of the delivery mechanism. Y

In testimony vvhereorl I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

' FERDINAND BIRCHBAUER. Witnesses: p

JASPER M. BERRY, Jr., T. J. COSTELLO. 

